Alibaba and Ford bring us closer to the future with the sale of cars through a vending machine

Imagine being able to buy a car as if it were a soft drink or a snack, as simple as inserting the money, choosing the product and that’s it, it’s ours. It sounds like fantasy, but Ford and Alibaba have made it a reality, having installed a vehicle vending machine from the American brand in China. This is the way both companies show the world the advances we will see in both the automotive industry and vehicle sales.

The sales system is as ingenious as it sounds: it is a giant machine that will deliver your new car once we have purchased it. For now, this new type of sale will only be implemented in China, housing a total of 42 vehicles exclusively from the American brand , which we can purchase through an app or website.

In this way, the car buying process will be considerably streamlined, since the operation is simple and effective. Once we have downloaded the app on our mobile device, we only need to search for the desired model among those on display, and we will be given two options: buy it directly or, as is common when purchasing a new car, test drive it.

To do this, Alibaba’s machine uses facial recognition to provide us with the desired model so we can enjoy it for a set period of time, which will be decisive in whether or not we proceed with the purchase. At the same time, a fleet of 42 vehicles considerably exceeds the total number of models on display at a traditional dealership , which is why they will be at our disposal, from a Ford Focus to a Mustang.

Although all new systems are trying to become robotic, Ford will have a physical person overseeing and managing the vending machine. Once the model from the oval-badged brand has won us over, we can complete the entire purchase process and acquire our new car almost instantly. Without a doubt, this system will be the future and, although for now it is only being applied with Ford, we will soon see more brands turn to the vending machine.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6k4LnwZnNWE

To date, the American brand’s machine will only be available in China but, little by little, we will see this new system implemented in other countries. This type of vehicle sale is described as an original innovation and, despite its autonomy, it will continue to rely on physical workers.